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Jacquline Simoneau of Quebec with her three gold medal in synchronized swimming at the 2011 Canada Games in Halifax

Halifax, February 26, 2011 – Jacqueline Simoneau of Team Quebec earned a third gold medal at the 2011 Canada Games after winning the solo event, Saturday, the last event of the competition.

Jacqueline Simoneau received a final championship score of 78.818 points for a new routine called “The Red Violin”. Kaylene Scheil of Alberta won silver with 73.941 points while Alina Ryssina from Ontario won the battle for bronze with 72.604 points.

In the solo B final, Quebec’s Anne-Marie Chouinard took first with 75.182 points, followed by Samantha Nealon of Ontario with 72.409 points and Madison Allen of Alberta with 72.120 points.

“I am very happy with my performance this week”, said Jacqueline Simoneau. “It was definitely the best performance of my career so far. I improved a lot, I had more energy and I perfected my technique. I am not only happy about my medals, but also about my experience.”

Quebec first all over the board Earlier this week, Jacqueline Simoneau won two gold medals, in the duo with her partner Anne-Marie Chouinard and in the team competition, helping Quebec secure every available gold medal this week.

“I am very satisfied with the performance of our athletes this week”, said Quebec head Coach Nathalie Lagrange. “Our goal was to win the A and B finals for the Flag Points, and that’s what we did. What’s exceptional is that 8 of our athletes finished in the top 10 in the figure’s competition.”

Nathalie Lagrange also commended Jacqueline Simoneau’s performance. “She delivered an extraordinary solo performance, technically as well as artistically. Her heights were incredible throughout the competition.”

“This week, she showed that she could do the work”, she added. “She is an excellent soloist and a great teammate. She is always positive and knows how to outdo herself. She is definitely a 2016 Olympics hopeful.”

Halifax, February 26, 2011 – The 2011 Canada Games synchronized swimming events have only just come to an end, but in Nova Scotia, thoughts are already focused on the Games’ legacy for the sport in Nova Scotia..

There is of course the physical legacy, which includes the construction of a new pool and the purchase of a new sound system. But there is also the potential to develop a future Olympic medallist.

“From a promotional point of view, our sport was presented in front a full crowd every day”, said provincial head coach Colleen Aird. “We did a good job promoting the event among the general population and our hope is now that the young people who watched the events will come forward and contact clubs.”

Aside from engaging new athletes, there is also the challenge of retaining those who have been involved in the sport for a long time and those who are just getting started, according to Synchro Nova Scotia’s Executive Director, Pam Kidney. “This week, they saw athletes that can inspire them”.

“The Canada Games are a great opportunity for our athletes, parents and officials to witness a high-level competition, here in Nova Scotia”, added Colleen Aird. “It’s something that you don’t often have a chance to see in the Maritimes.”

“The goal now is that our athletes who participated in the Canada Games continue to compete. They had the opportunity to talk to other athletes about training hours, objectives, etc. It was very inspiring for them. We hope that these athletes, who were only in their second year of training at the national level, will be more comfortable in future national competitions and will continue to progress no longer for a one-time event, but on the long term.”

Anne-Marie Chouinard & Jacqueline Simoneau of Quebec show of their synchronized swimming medals at the 2011 Canada Games

Halifax, February, 25 2011 – Quebec Team and Quebec duo of Anne-Marie Chouinard and Jacqueline Simoneau won the first two gold medals insynchronised swimming .

The Quebec Team earned a total of 76.891 for its program entitled “Snakes” for gold. Alberta won silver with 74.011 points, and Ontario finished third with 73.111 points for bronze. Alberta finished the round robin one position above its initial ranking.

“We had more energy and expression in the final” said Madison Allen from Alberta. “We really wanted to do our best and to perform for the crowd.”

Two in duo

In the final for group A, the Quebec duo formed by Anne-Marie Chouinard and Jacqueline Simoneau earned a final score of 77.909 points for their program entitled “Dream”.

Seeded third, Jordan Field and Tess Kruspe from Ontario climbed one position up and finished second with their final score of 73.984 points. Albertains Madison Allen and Kali Wong won the bronze with a score of 73.361 points.

“We’re really proud of our performance and of winning another gold medal for Quebec” said Chouinard. “We were more synchronized in round robin but I think we were more energetic in the final” added Simoneau.

“We are happy with the fact that our performance was better in final than in round robin” said Ontarian Jordan Field. “It’s a good way to prepare for our next major competition, the Eastern Division Championships.”

In the final for group B, the other Quebec pair mad of Laura Dee and Camille Rémillard took the lead with their program entitled “Alice in Wonderland”. Ontarians Erin Milner and Lisa Sanders finished second followed by Jordan McKenzie and Savannah Sami-Bacon from Alberta.

Synchronised swimming events continue tomorrow with the final in solo.

Halifax, February 23, 2011 – Quebec’s synchronized swimmers lead the rankings in all events following the preliminaries which came to an end today.

On the second day of competition, Quebec took the lead in the team rankings with 76.939 points, which includes the average scores of athletes in the figures and routine events. Ontario and Alberta follow with 74.127 and 73.903 points respectively.

Earlier in the day, the Quebec duo formed by Jacqueline Simoneau and Anne-Marie Chouinard performed a new routine which earned them first place with 78.075 points. Their teammates Laura Dee and Camille Rémillard are in second with 75.309 points, followed by Madison Allen and Kali Wong from Alberta with 73.769 points.

Tuesday, Quebec took first place in the solo event thanks to Jacqueline Simoneau’s routine.

“We had goals coming into this competition and so far we’ve reached them”, said Quebec head coach Nathalie Lagrange. “However, we expect more from our team in the final, including tighter formations and better synchronization.”

“Our team had a lot of energy today”, analyzed Alberta head coach Jennifer Tregale following the team event. “The girls performed some great routines and were technically sound. They had a job to do today and they did it. I am very proud of our athletes.”

The head coach of the Aquabelles Club in Calgary expects a bit more energy from her team in the finals as well as more emotion to win the crowd.

The finals start on Friday with the duo and team events after a rest day.

Halifax, February 22, 2011 – Quebec dominated the first day of synchronized swimming competitions at the 2011 Canada Games.

In the solo event, Jacqueline Simoneau led the competition after the preliminaries with 84.650 points. Her teammate, Anne-Marie Chouinard, took second place with 79.233 points followed by Ontario’s Alina Ryssina with 77.334 points.

In the Canada Games synchronized swimming event, the two representatives from each province compete in two distinct finals. The top placing athlete competes in the A final, which is the only medal round.

Earlier this morning, 103 athletes took part in the figures event.

Eight of Quebec’s 10 representatives were selected among the top ten. Once again, Jacqueline Simoneau dominated the event with a score of 74.985 points. Her teammates, Laura Dee and Anne-Marie-Chouinard finished second and third.

Alberta’s Kaylene Scheil (5th) and Zoe Frost from Ontario (8th) were the only athletes from outside of Quebec to make the top ten.

One after another, each swimmer executed four figures before a panel of judges. Although medals are not awarded for this event, it is very important for the rest of the competition as 50% of the figures score is combined with 50% of the score awarded for the routines to determine a cumulative ranking score.

Competitions will continue tomorrow with the duet and team events.

Schedule for Wednesday, February 23

9:25am – 11:50am Duet preliminaries

4:30pm – 5:30pm Opening ceremonies

6:25pm – 8:00pm Team preliminaries

About Synchro Canada

Synchro Canada is the national organization that governs synchronized swimming in Canada and that represents more than 130 clubs and 12 000 members all across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence through the development of athletes and synchronized swimming ambassadors at all levels Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors and partners: Sport Canada, Own the Podium, B2Ten, the Montreal National Multi-Sport Centre, and its official providers:

Official partners: Epiderma Program partners: Sport Canada, Own the Podiu, B2Ten, Centre national multisport-Montréal Official suppliers: Speedo, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental.

For more information, check out Synchro Canada’s website at www.synchro.ca or join us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Halifax, February 21, 2011 – Synchronized swimming athletes begin competition at the 2011 Canada Games tomorrow in the all new Canada Games Centre in Halifax.

“Each province has sent its ten best swimmers to this event. The level of competition is very high”, said Alberta head coach, Jennifer Tregale. “This event is unique in that it’s the only Canadian event where athletes from the 13-15, junior and senior age groups compete together.”

For some athletes, this multisport event is the highlight of their career, their mini-Olympic Games, whereas for others, it’s a test that will orientate the rest of their career.

“Several of the athletes here this week will ask themselves if they want to pursue the commitment required to participate Canada Games over the last few months, but with the goal of making the national team”, said British Columbia head coach, Susan Kemper.

Eight members of the 2010 13-15 national team in action Quebec will attempt to continue its victory streak at the three last Canada Games (1999, 2003 and 2007). At the last Games, Ontario took second ahead of Alberta in third.

“Our goal is to continue the tradition”, said Quebec head coach Nathalie Lagrange and coach/manager Karine Doré.

Quebec’s team is composed of five of the 12 members of the 13-15 national team, including Jacqueline Simoneau.

At the 2010 Espoir National Championships, the 14 year-old took home five medals in as many events and won the award for most points in the Tier 6 competition (15 and under). As part of the 2010 13-15 national team at Comen Cup in Greece last July, Simoneau took 3rd place in the figures competition, 4th in the team competition and gold in the solo event. In the duet, Synchro Canada’s 2010 Athlete of the Year will form a pair with her Comen Cup partner Anne-Marie Chouinard with whom she won silver at the 2010 Comen Cup.

Other athletes competing at the 2011 Canada Games that were part of the 2010 13-15 national team include Jordan McKenzie and Kali Wong from Alberta, Olivia Zawadiuk from British Columbia, Alina Ryssina from Ontario and Mathilde Sauvé and Natasha Bernier from Quebec.

Athletes that participated in the 2007 Canada Games include Jo-Annie Fortin, Stéphanie Leclair, Camille Bowness, Marie-Lou Morin and Stéphanie Durocher from Quebec, as well as Emilia Kopcik from BC. Élise Marcotte (2003), Ève Lamoureux (2003) and Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon (1999), also current members of the national team, also graduated from the Canada Games.

Schedule for Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011:

8:00am – 9:00am Warm-up

9:00am – 12:00pm Figures (2 juries) (2 figures)

2:00pm – 5:00pm Figures (2 juries) (2 figures)

6:55pm – 7:55pm Solo preliminaries (first half)

8:20pm– 9:20pm Solo preliminaries (second half)

About Synchro Canada Synchro Canada is the national organization that governs synchronized swimming in Canada and that represents more than 130 clubs and 12 000 members all across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence through the development of athletes and synchronized swimming ambassadors at all levels Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors and partners: Sport Canada, Own the Podium, B2Ten, the Montreal National Multi-Sport Centre, and its official providers: Speedo, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental. For more information, check out Synchro Canada’s website at www.synchro.ca or join us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.